In an effort to enhance public safety and help fire departments upgrade equipment and train firefighters and paramedics, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative James Langevin recently joined with Mayors Scott Avedisian and Allan Fung to announce more than $1.26 million in federal grants for the Warwick and Cranston Fire Departments.

Warwick will receive $741,741 to purchase six new automated external defibrillators (AED) that will be used to respond to victims of cardiac arrest. The department will also use the money to help train firefighters assigned to Advanced Life Support ambulances to improve patient care when responding to medical emergencies. Cranston will receive $521,944 to implement a computer aided dispatch system to improve the dispatch and response services of the department and to replace and upgrade the department’s firefighter breathing apparatus to improve firefighter safety.

These competitive federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) were made available through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to train firefighters and paramedics and upgrade equipment. Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Representative Langevin wrote to DHS supporting both grant applications.

The AFG program awards grants through DHS’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel. Strengthening the resources of local fire departments and emergency responders helps communities meet the challenges of fire-related hazards.